Spike is back in the Feed Room with Louise Jones, a nutritionist at Connolly’s RED MILLS, and Finbar Mulligan, the professor of Nutrition at the University College Dublin School, to talk through what Microbiomes are and how they affect your horse.

Guests:

Louise Jones: In 1999, Louise qualified with a BSc (Hons) in Equine Science, during which she specialised in breeding science and went on to graduate with an MSc in Equine Science in 2000. She is also one of only a handful of registered equine nutritionists in the UK.

She has an extensive understanding of stud, clinical and performance horse nutrition, and has worked with trainers and breeders in the UK, Continental Europe, and the Middle East.

Finbar Mulligan: He has worked in ruminant nutrition research since 1996. Originally he worked on the development of the Irish Net Energy System, which forms the basis on which we now feed ruminants in Ireland. He has researched extensively in the areas of negative energy balance, metabolic status and subacute ruminal acidosis, publishing approximately 70 scientific publications. His research interests include equine nutrition, development of high output grazing systems for milk production, dairy herd health and the prevention of production diseases by nutrition, nutrition and metabolic status of the early lactation cow, nutrition and fertility, nutrition in the dry period and protein metabolism of dairy cattle.